Multiple Magnetic Stripe Transaction Cards and Systems for the Utilization Thereof

The present invention relates to multiple magnetic stripe transaction cards and systems for the use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to magnetic stripe transaction cards usable with currently installed conventional reading and processing systems.

Currently, all transactions made utilizing a transaction card with one magnetic stripe must be charged against one information set contained on that magnetic stripe. Examples of such cards are conventional credit cards, ATM cards and frequent flyer cards. For non-magnetic stripe readers, transactions are charged against one set of raised account numbers. Presently, single cards do not have multiple account capability so as to be separable into different accounts or categories at points of sale. Moreover, as transaction cards multiply, so do difficulties such as the physical inconvenience of carrying the cards, the difficulties in consolidating rebates from multiple accounts, and the inconveniences of receiving more than one bill and writing more than one check. In addition, there is frequently a need to separate transactions for specific categories of business expenses and for appropriate record keeping. This is especially the case for small business owners who need to separate transactions for accounting purposes and employees who must separate transactions for reimbursement purposes. There is also a need to have a choice of payment methods (payoff at month's end, revolving, fixed installment method, etc.) at the point of sale on one card. Finally, choosing who pays for each of the multiple accounts on one card is a desirable feature. For example, students may charge basic school supplies for parent reimbursement on one account and non-school expenses for personal payment on the other.

The current credit cards with one magnetic stripe cannot separate transactions at the point of sale. To configure them to do so requires advanced technologies such as "smart" cards which require complete reconfiguration of merchant reader equipment and which, in addition to requiring a complete change-out of the installed processing base, would require retraining of all merchant users. Introduction of advanced technologies to separate transactions at the point of sale would result in installation of unproven systems which may be susceptible to fraud as well as installation of systems requiring modification of strict VISA/MasterCard standards. Moreover, extensive research and development and extensive investment in tooling for manufacturing would be necessary to implement using advanced technologies for separating transactions at the point of sale.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved transaction card having at least first and second read-only data stripes thereon.

In accordance with this object and other objects, a transaction card of standard dimensions comprises a substrate having one side with first and second areas. A first read-only coded magnetic stripe is disposed in the first area and a second read-only coded magnetic stripe is disposed in the second area. The first and second stripes may encode different data in accordance with standard data encryption protocols, readable by conventional retail, transaction card reading systems. The other side includes printed indicia identifying a customer and numerical indicia identifying that customer's account number, and perhaps other account information (e.g., expiration date) as is standard in the credit card industry.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to a system including transaction cards readable by standard transaction card readers, the standard retail transaction card readers themselves and central information processors connected to the readers. Each transaction card includes a substrate having first and second areas with different visual and/or tactile indicia. A first read-only data strip is disposed in the first area and a second read-only data strip is disposed in the second area. The first and second data stripes encode different data (or the same data) in accordance with standard data encryption protocols, readable by the standard transaction card readers. The standard card readers are connected to a central processor which includes at least one invoice-generating processor. The invoice-generating processor has a dual output for each transaction card with the dual output having first output data related to the data encoded on the first magnetic stripe and second output data relating to data encoded on the second magnetic stripe.

Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear, planar view of a first embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the transaction card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the transaction card of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the transaction card in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-3, but shown inverted;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the transaction card as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the transaction card of FIGS. 4 and 5 shown inverted from the FIG. 3 orientation;

FIG. 7 is a planar view of a first side of a second embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the transaction card of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a planar view of the second side of the transaction card of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a front, planar view of a third embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a rear, planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front, planar view of a fourth embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a rear, planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front, planar view of a fifth embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a rear, planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front, planar view of a sixth embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a rear, planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front, planar view of a more specific transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is a rear, planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a front view of a seventh embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the transaction card of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a planar, rear view of an eighth embodiment of a transaction card which may be utilized with transaction cards having a front view which corresponds to FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18;

FIG. 23 is a front planar view of a ninth embodiment of a transaction card configured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a long edge view of the transaction card of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a rear planar view of the transaction card of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25, but showing an alternative indicia arrangement;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatical view illustrating either of the embodiments of the transaction card of FIGS. 1-9 being used with a merchant swipe reader;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatical view showing either of the embodiments of the transaction cards of FIGS. 1-9 being used with an ATM-like reader;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatical view showing either of the embodiments of the transaction cards of FIGS. 1-9 being used with an impact-type reader; and

FIG. 30 is a diagrammatical view showing any of the readers of FIGS. 23-25, being connected with a currently existing transaction card processing system.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown in a first embodiment, a transaction card 20, comprising a substrate having the approximate length, width and thickness of a standard VISA/MasterCard/American Express/Discover credit card. FIG. 1 illustrates the rear view of the transaction card 20 wherein the transaction card has a first area 21 and a second area 22. The second area 22 is preferably visually distinctive from the first area 21. For example, as illustrated by the diagonal shading, the second area 22 may be green in color and the first area 21 may be brown in color, whether different colors are used and the particular color selected by the vendor of the credit card is optional and it is only important that, when used, the user be able to visually distinguish the first area 21 from the second area 22. The first area 21 may also optionally have a different tactile feel from the second area 22. Again, it is only important that, when used, the first area 21 be distinguishable from the second area 22.

The first area 21 has a first magnetic stripe 24 adhered thereto in accordance with standard transaction card dimensions. In other words, the first magnetic stripe 24 is preferably disposed approximately 3/8 inch from the edge 25 of the transaction card 20. In accordance with the present invention, the first magnetic stripe 24 is encrypted with standard read-only data that the usual customer transaction card is encrypted with, i.e., data that may be read by a merchant swipe reader, an ATM-like reader or an older imprint-type reader. An example of the read-only encoded data on the stripe 24 is data identifying the card user and the category of the account to be charged upon using the transaction card 20.

Disposed in the second area 22 is a second magnetic stripe 26 which is preferably positioned 3/8 inch from the edge 27 of the transaction card 20 in accordance with standard transaction card requirements. The second magnetic stripe 26 can be encrypted with data different from the data of the first magnetic stripe 24 so that when the card 20 is used, separation of transactions at the point of sale may be accomplished (e.g., stripe may identify a separate account). For example, the first stripe 24 may be for business expenses and the second stripe 26 for personal expenditures, or the first stripe 24 may be for necessities and the second stripe 26 for luxuries.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the first and second magnetic stripes 22 and 26 are on the same surface 28, i.e., the rear surface of the transaction card 20.

In FIG. 3, the front surface 29 of the transaction card 20 is shown. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the front surface 29 is divided into third and fourth areas 32 and 30 which preferably has different visual or tactile indicia. Preferably, the third area 32 is the same color or texture as the first area 21 and the fourth area 30 is of the same visual or tactile indicia as the second area 22 on the rear side 28 of the transaction card 20. The front side 29 of the transaction card 20 has a first set of printed indicia 33 and a second set of printed indicia 34 which is inverted with respect to the printed indicia 33 so as to inform the person using the card as to which of the magnetic stripes 24 and 26 is being read. Printed indicia may or may not contain user's account number; if, account number is used, it may be identical or different. As is seen in FIG. 3, since the printed indicia 33 in the green third area is oriented right side up for reading, it is known to the user and to the merchant that the magnetic stripe 26 in the green area 22 is being read.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the orientation of the transaction card 20 is reversed so that the printed indicia 33 is inverted and the printed indicia 34 is oriented for reading. This informs the user and merchant that the transaction card 20 is oriented so that the first stripe 24 rather than the second stripe 26 is positioned for reading by the transaction card reader.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, a second embodiment 40 of the transaction card in accordance with the present invention is illustrated wherein a first magnetic stripe 42 is disposed on a first side 44 of the transaction card 40 and a second magnetic stripe 46 disposed on a second side 48 of the transaction card. As with the first embodiment, the stripes 42 and 46 preferably have encrypted thereon different read-only data identifying different accounts or categories of accounts to be charged. With this arrangement, printed indicia 50 on the second side 48 of the transaction card 40 relates to the first magnetic stripe 42, and printed indicia 51 on the first side 44 of the transaction card 40 relates to the second magnetic stripe 46. In other words, when the printed indicia 50 appears to the person processing the card right side up (FIG. 9), then the first magnetic stripe 42 is being read and, when the printed indicia 51 appears right side up, then the second magnetic stripe 46 is being read. While indicia 50/51 have identical account numbers, they may also be different.

As with the first embodiment, first and second background colors 56 and 58 are preferably used with the card 40. The first color 56 links first stripe 42 to printed indicia 50 and the second color 58 links the second stripe 46 to the printed indicia 51. Any or no colors may be used and it is only important that the two lines of data encrypted on stripes 42 and 46 on the card 40 be visually distinguishable. This also may be accomplished by words such as using the term "BUSINESS" on side 44 of the card and the term "PERSONAL" on the second side 48 or by using a different tactile feel. In a modification of the second embodiment, the first side 44 of the transaction card 40 may be of entirely one color and the second side 48 be of another color.

It is also within the scope of this invention to have transaction cards (not shown) that include read-only magnetic strips extending perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic stripes 24 and 26 of the transaction card 20 and perpendicular to the magnetic stripes 42 and 46 of the transaction card 40 so as to provide additional read-only data for various purposes. These magnetic stripes may be in lieu of or in addition to the magnetic stripes of transaction cards 20 and 40 and may be on the same or opposite sides of the transaction cards.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein a transaction card 60 has a front face 61 which includes indicia 62 such as that identifying the transaction card customer and the expiration date and indicia 63 which is the transaction card account number. As is seen in FIG. 14, on the rear face 65 of the transaction card, there are two magnetic stripes 66 and 67. Magnetic stripes 66 and 67 both correspond to the account number on the front of the card. When the transaction card 60 is used at the point of sale, an identifier, in addition to the account number data on the magnetic stripe, is stripe, is used to assign transactions to different categories represented by each stripe after the magnetic stripe is used at the point of sale.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 where a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown, a transaction card 70 has a front face 71 with indicia 72 thereon identifying the customer and account number indicia 73 thereon which differs from the account number indicia 63 of the transaction card 60. The indicia 73 includes in the account numbers "5" and "6" separated by a "slash" 74. Thus, the front face 71 of the transaction card 60 has in effect two account numbers in the account number indicia 73 which differ only in the final digit, resulting in one account number being a permutation of the other.

Referring now to FIG. 13, where the back face 75 of the transaction card 70 is shown, it is seen that the first magnetic stripe 76 is identified with the account number 73 having "5" as the last digit and a stripe 77 is identified by an account number 73' having a "6" as the final digit. Accounts currently, each of the two account numbers 73 and 73' corresponds to an appropriate magnetic stripe 76 and 77, respectfully. For transactions not using magnetic swiping, the appropriate final digit "5" or "6" is circled. In is to be understood, that the final digit can be any digits "0"-"9" the digits "5" and "6" merely being exemplary.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is shown a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein a transaction card 80 has on a front face 81 thereof first indicia 82 identifying the customer; a first account number 83 associated with a first account for that customer and a second account number 74 is associated with a second account for that customer. The second account number 84 is inverted with respect to the first account number 83. On the rear side 85 of the card are magnetic stripes 86 and 87. The magnetic stripe 86 is associated with the account number 83 while the magnetic stripe 87 is associated with the account number 84. The transaction card 80 is inverted to swipe the magnetic stripe 86 from the orientation of FIG. 15 which is used to read the magnetic stripe 87. In non-magnetic stripe transactions, the transaction card 80 is inserted either upside down or right side up to select the appropriate account number. In either case, the embossed information will be correctly placed on the invoice slip.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a sixth embodiment of the invention, wherein a transaction card 90 has a front face 91 with first indicia 92 identifying the customer, a first account number 93 and second account number 94, wherein the account numbers are both oriented the same as the customer indicia 92. As is seen in FIG. 17, the stripes 96 and 97 are associated with the account numbers 93 and 94, respectively. At the point of sale, the account number 93 or 94 actually used is circled when the point of sale use is a non-magnetic stripe use.

In FIG. 18, a transaction card 90' has a front face 91' which is substantially similar to that of the transaction card 90 of FIG. 16, but with the addition of printed indicia 98 and 99 specifically identifying the purpose of the account numbers 93 and 94. For example, the front face of the printed indicia 99 is for "business" use, while the printed indicia 98 is for "personal" use.

As is seen in FIG. 19, the written indicia 98 and 99 also appears on the back face 95' of the card identifying the use of the magnetic stripes 96 and 97 with which the indicia is associated. As is seen in FIG. 19, the indicia 98 and 99 are inverted with respect to one another, as are the account numbers 93 and 94.

In each of the transaction cards 60, 70, 80, 90 and 90', the rear faces thereof 65, 75, 85, 95 and 95' is preferably divided into areas A and B. As is indicated by the different shading on each rear face, the area A preferably has a different color from the area B so as to visually distinguish the area A from the area B. Accordingly, the identity of the magnetic stripe being swiped and read is readily apparent to the user or handler of the card at the point of sale.

Referring now to FIG. 20, there is shown a seventh embodiment of the invention, wherein transaction card 100 has in the front face 101 with transaction card customer information 102 identifying a single customer. Four account numbers 103, 104, 105 and 106 appear on the front face 101 of the transaction card 100.

Referring now to FIG. 21 wherein the rear face 110 of the transaction card 101 is shown, it is seen that there are four magnetic stripes 111, 112, 113 and 114 which corresponds to the account numbers 103, 104, 105 and 106, respectively. The stripes 111-114 can be identified using different colors, category identifiers (personal, business) and account numbers as mentioned previously for the two stripes. The magnetic stripes 113 and 114 are spaced from the short edges 116 and 118 of the transaction card 100 by the same distance that the magnetic stripes 111 and 112 are spaced from the long edges 120 and 122 of the transaction card. Consequently, the stripes 113 and 114 are readable by a standard magnetic card reader since even their shorter length is long enough to provide space for a usable code.

Referring now to FIG. 22, an eighth embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein a credit card 130 has stripes 132 and 134 thereon which extend across the width of the card adjacent side edges 136 and 138. Again, the magnetic stripe 132 and 134 are long enough to contain enough information for reading by a conventional, standard transaction card reader.

Referring now to FIGS. 23-26 which disclose a ninth embodiment of the invention, there is shown a transaction card 140 which has magnetic stripes 141 on a first side 142 thereof and 143 on a second side 144 thereof (see FIG. 24). As is evident from FIG. 4, the magnetic stripes 141 and 143 are proximate the same long edge 146 of the transaction card 140. In a first arrangement of the ninth embodiment, first indicia 147 is printed or written on a first area 148 which is associated with the magnetic stripe 141. In the illustrated embodiment, the first written indicia 147 is exemplified by the words "JOHN DOE ACCOUNT NO. 1". The area 148 is identified by a selected color, for example, the illustrated green. A second written indicia 150 exemplified by the words "JOHN DOE ACCOUNT NO. 2" is in a second area 151. The second area 151 is preferably visually different from the first area 148 and in the illustrated embodiment may be of a different color, such as, for example, the illustrated brown. The second written indicia 150 and the second area 151 are associated with the magnetic stripe 143 on the rear surface 144 of the card 140.

Preferably, the rear surface 144 corresponds in some way to the area 151 on the front surface 142 of the card. In the illustrated example, the rear surface 144 is illustrated to be of the same color as the second area 151, i.e., if the second area 151 is brown, then the rear surface 144 is also preferably brown.

Referring now to FIG. 26, in an alternative arrangement of the ninth embodiment, the transaction card 140' has a rear surface 144' having the second written indicia 150 thereon, as well as on the front face 142. Accordingly, the words "JOHN DOE ACCOUNT NO. 2" appears on both the rear face 144' and the front face 142 of the transaction card 140'. It is to be kept in mind that the written indicia 147 and 150 may be moved to other places on the card and that, for the purposes of this invention and disclosure and for the purposes of an illustrated embodiment, it is only necessary that there be at least two magnetic stripes 141 and 143 adjacent one edge 146 of the transaction card, which are "read-only" magnetic stripes which are positioned on opposite sides of the card so as to be readable by conventional, currently available card reading equipment currently such as that illustrated in FIGS. 27-30.

Referring now to FIGS. 27-30, there are shown a standard variety of readers for the transaction card embodiments previously described, such as the transaction cards 140 of FIGS. 23-26. The readers are conventional readers employed presently at retail establishments and banks. In FIG. 27, a merchant swipe reader 160 is shown; in FIG. 28, an ATM-type reader 162 is shown; and in FIG. 29, an imprint-type reader 164 is shown. In each case, only the transaction card 20 of the first embodiment is shown being used but each of the aforedescribed transaction cards 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 90' and 100 is also readably usable instead of the transaction card 20, the transaction card 20 being merely exemplary. With the merchant swipe reader 160, the card 20 is oriented so that either the first magnetic stripe 24 or the second magnetic stripe 26 is received in a slot 166, while in the ATM reader 162, either the first or second magnetic stripe is positioned for reading in a slot 168 in coordination with operation of a keypad 170. With the imprint-type reader 164, a slider 172 engages either the printed indicia 33 or the printed indicia 34 and imprints the indicia on a written charge slip. For use with imprint-type readers, the printed indicia 33 and 34 and the printed indicia of all embodiments is preferably raised but for other uses, the indicia need not be raised and, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, is flat or coplanar with the surface of the transaction card.

Referring now to FIG. 30 where a system for processing each of the transaction card embodiments is shown, a multiplicity of merchant swipe readers 160, ATM-type readers 162 and imprint readers 164 are connected to a credit card processor or bank ATM processor 182 in accordance with conventional currently used arrangements. The system is described during using the transaction card 20 of the first embodiment but each of the aforedescribed transaction cards is usable in the system. The processor 182 in turn communicates with a credit card bank or commercial bank 184 which generates two listings 186 and 188 on the card user's statement 190. The listing 186 is for charges to the account identified by data encrypted on the first magnetic stripe 24 and identified by the first area 21 on the back of the transaction card 20 and the third area 32 on the front of the transaction card 20, while the listing 188 corresponds to the data encrypted on the second magnetic stripe 26 in the second area 22 on the back surface 28 of the transaction card and the fourth area 30 on the front surface 29 of the transaction card. Likewise, when the second embodiment of the transaction card 40 is used, the listing 186 includes charges associated with the first magnetic stripe 42 on the first side 44 and the printed indicia 50 on the second side 44 of the transaction card while the listing 188 includes charges associated with the second magnetic stripe 46 on the second side 48 of the transaction card and the raised indicia 51 on the first side 44. In this way, the listings 186 and 188 are produced in the single statement 190, which single statement may be divided by the credit card user at the credit card user's convenience.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, if one of the stripes 24 or 26 is for ATM data, then the information relating to ATM transactions may appear on a separate statement. There may be other arrangements in which separate statements are preferred.

By configuring transaction cards with two magnetic data stripes or four magnetic data stripes (FIG. 21), numerous advantages result from the credit card user having the ability to separate transactions at the point of sale while maintaining one card. One card provides the physical convenience of carrying fewer cards while allowing the user such conveniences as consolidating rebates from multiple accounts such as air miles, etc. and receiving a single consolidated bill for which a single check may be written for payment. Additionally, one card deepens the relationship with a single company offering greater simplicity when resolving merchant disputes and replacing lost or stolen cards and enabling the user to garner higher credit lines as the credit card company has a deeper understanding of a user's total credit activity.

Reasons for separating transactions may be of special significance for small business owners who need specific categorization of business expenses which can be separated for accounting purposes. Employees can use the single transaction cards to separate business expenses that will require reimbursement from personal expenses. For budgeting purposes, items which need to be tracked separately can be charged against separate magnetic stripes while separate magnetic stripes allow staging of payments for cash flow because payment periods can be staggered, allowing more frequent smaller payments, rather than a single large payment. Another advantage is the ability to assign specific types of payment to specific lines of credit (charge lines: paid off monthly lines; revolving lines; lines requiring differing minimum payments; and installment lines requiring fixed payments). For example, charging emergency uses, such as health care expenses, to one of the magnetic stripes and personal uses to the other magnetic stripe. The present invention also enables the user to determine who pays for transactions made against each stripe. For example, college students may charge school supplies to be paid by parents to one stripe and all other expenses to be paid personally by the student to the other stripe. These are merely exemplary of advantages that the credit card, according to the present invention, provides to the credit card user.

With respect to credit card banks, credit card banks which distribute transaction cards configured with multiple magnetic stripes, according to the present invention, have the advantage of garnering additional market share in a highly competitive industry by replacing at least one other transaction card in the user's array to thereby become a card of choice, in essence doubling balance user's card. In addition, business/personal card synergies are achievable, benefitting both users and credit card banks. For example, a strong corporate card can add all of its business customers to its personal card portfolio by providing a combination business/personal card (and vice-versa). Such an advantage is even more compelling when card rebates, such as airline miles, are consolidated for both accounts on a card.

Deployment of credit cards configured in accordance with the present invention, such as the credit cards 20 and 40, is relatively easy to implement because the cards themselves are relatively inexpensive to produce since it is less expensive to manufacture single credit cards with dual stripes than to manufacture two separate one-stripe cards. Moreover, only minor, if any, revisions are necessary to current VISA/MasterCard regulations. In addition, the current installed base of credit card merchant reader equipment, including both magnetic stripe and raised letter technology can continue to be used with minimal, if any, retraining of merchants. Since the transaction cards of the present invention use current transaction and processing systems, there exists a track record of resistance to fraud, which any system requiring revision of the currently installed processing systems would require years to achieve.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.